Thursday, May 31, 2012

Senior Thursday

Many seniors are on a fixed income.Living expenses come first—rent or mortgage, food, medication and utilities.Then there's clothing and transportation, and maybe pet expenses.Before long, their monthly income is used up, leaving little, if anything, for entertainment.

That isn't to say that seniors can't be entertained on a fixed income.There are events and places to go that are free or very low cost.There are options to Broadway plays and gourmet restaurants.Here are a few ideas.

Become a Volunteer – By volunteering at film festivals, sporting events and other venues, one can experience the entertainment, and sometimes even get a free meal.Other places to volunteer are community centers, gardens and local parks.Not only do these places provide fun things to do, they are great opportunities for socializing.

Check out Your Local College or University – They often have cultural events or access to free/low cost college-level classes.Auditing classes is a way to have access to the college library and performances.

Use Your Library – Your local library contains a wealth of free entertainment.In addition to thousands of books, there are magazines, newspapers, movies and CDs.You can also access the internet for free to keep in touch with friends via email.

Check Out Community Events – Many communities have neighborhood concerts, and plays at colleges and in churches.Scour your newspaper for notices.There are also seasonal festivals, like music festivals in the summer and harvest festivals in the fall.

Enjoy Nature – So many adventures out of doors are free.Hiking, biking, picnics, etc., are all for you to enjoy at no cost.Find trails in your area.

Watch for Free Days at Museums – Many museums have one day a week that is free or very low cost for entry.Find out what these days are for the museums in your area.Arrive early and be prepared for long lines.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Tips for Tuesday

It’s
that time of year again—graduations, Father’s Day, baseball games.The weather is getting warmer, and that means
picnics and barbecues.Did you ever find
yourself at one of these events, only to discover that you forgot the knife to
cut the watermelon, or the buns for the hot dogs?Here is a checklist of items you should pack
so you won’t leave anything behind.

Friday, May 25, 2012

Frugal Friday

So many cleaning products on the market are full of dangerous chemicals
that can harm both the environment and your health.They are also expensive.So why not look to the past for both
inexpensive and healthier alternatives?Over the next few weeks, we're going to look at ways to use common
household products to clean your home.This week, we'll look at using baking soda in the around the house.

·Using a 2:1 ratio of baking soda to vinegar, use
on aluminum shower door frames.

·Sprinkle baking soda onto a cut lemon to use on
brass.

·Use baking soda on wet spills on the
carpet.After the baking soda absorbs
the liquid, sweep it up.Then mix baking
soda and water to clean the area.Dry
thoroughly before vacuuming.

·Use baking soda with warm water to clean up
vomit on carpets.

·Mix with water to remove crayon stains.Rinse thoroughly with hot water.

·Mix with warm water to clean floors.

·Sprinkle inside rubber gloves to slip them on
easier, and absorb odors and moisture.

·If you spill a liquid on a book, sprinkle baking
soda on the pages, then let them dry in the sun.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Senior Thursday

A pocket neighborhood is a compact set of
houses with common areas between them.The houses or apartments have pedestrian walkways, gardens, courtyards,
shared backyards and/or alleys, and central mailboxes.Everything is close together.

Why are these good for seniors?First of all, there is little
maintenance.Assessment fees often cover
lawn and yard care.Front and back
yards, if private, are small.

Another benefit is the companionship.Because neighbors are so close to each other,
they can easily visit.Spending time
with others is as easy as walking out your back door.Houses have detached garages.This gives neighbors the chance to see each
other before disappearing inside.

That isn't to say there isn't privacy.Windows aren't aligned to see into each
other's houses.And picket fences line
the fronts of the houses to delineate property.
The biggest benefit in these types of communities is increased socialization
with others rather than isolation.And
since social contact is an important part of keeping an aging mind sharp, these
communities can keep seniors healthier.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Tips for Tuesday

How you organize your shoes (or anything for
that matter) in your home, depends on your individual situation.Closet size, number of pairs, number of
family members, habits, religious beliefs, etc., all play a part in how you can
store your shoes.

The first step in organizing your shoes is to
get all of them out in one place.Pair
them, and sort them by color and/or style (casual, dressy, work, etc.).Once they are all laid out, you will see how
many pairs of black pumps you have, how many running shoes, how many brown
leather sandals, etc.Seeing them all
together will help decide what you really need to keep, and what can be donated.

When deciding what to keep, think about use
and comfort.Just because a pair you
bought five years ago is one of your favorites, if you never wear them because
they are uncomfortable, then it's time to donate them.GO through every color and style, and see
where you can pare down.Once you're
done sorting, you'll see what's left to go back in your closet.

Arrange your shoes by the way you would look
for them.For instance, would you look
for a black pair of shoes when getting ready for work?Then keep all your black shoes together.Or do you think in terms of function?Would you look for a pair of comfy shoes for
work in the morning?Then place all work
shoes together.Or store them according
to where you would put them on.For
instance, boots and running shoes by the back door, and dressy shoes in your
closet.

There are many ways to store shoes.The first of these is on your closet
floor.That isn't to say they should all
just be tossed in.You should purchase a
shoe cubby or shoe rack and pair your shoes accordingly.Always keep pairs together.If the shoes are small flats, you can place
more than one pair in a cubby.

If you have closets with shelving, keep your
shoes on shelves in your closet.The
shelves can be spaced closer together than they would be for sweaters and pants
to make the best use of the space.This
also avoids having to stack several pairs on top of each other.

If you don't have a lot of shelving, but have
plenty of hanging space, use a shoe organizer that hangs from the closet
rod.You can usually get about 10 pairs
of shoes in 8 inches of hanging space.

Another place to store shoes is on the back of
a door.There are shoe racks and pockets
for this use.Pair smaller shoes
together in one pocket.Be careful with
shoe racks that may stretch out the toes of your shoes.

Under the bed is a great place for shoes
also.There are bins and bags
specifically for this purpose with dividers.Or purchase a low, long bin and arrange the shoes on their sides, toe to
heel for maximum use of space.If you
are storing shoes under the bed that you use often, look for a bin or bag on
rollers so it is easy to access.

Some people don't keep shoes in their closets
or bedrooms, but rather prefer keeping them in the laundry room or garage.In this case, special shelving can be
installed to house the shoes, or purchase stackable shoe cubbies.

If you have room for a bench, purchase one
that has storage and keep your shoes in or under the bench.

Whatever you decide, it is important that all
family members are on board, and everyone puts their shoes away after wearing
them.Because even the best systems
won't work if you don't use them.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Moving On Monday

Packing Your Student for Dorm Life—Part Two

Last week, we began a series of articles on transitioning your high school
graduate to life in a college dorm.We
looked at the basics a student would need for his/her dorm room.This week, we'll look at personal care items
they should purchase and pack.Of
course, some students have special needs, so their list will be different.But this is a good starting point.

PERSONAL CARE

·Robe, slippers, flip-lops for shower

·Shower Tote

·Shampoo, conditioner, hair styling supplies

·Hair dryer, curling iron, hair straightener

·Hair brush, comb

·Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash

·Deodorant

·Shaving cream and razors

·Nail clipper and file

·Moisturizers

·Soap and soap container, mesh sponge

·Cologne/perfume, after shave

·Cosmetics and make-up with case

·Cotton swabs, cotton balls/squares

·Mirror

·Pain reliever(s) and vitamins

·Cold/allergy medication

·Prescription medications

·Glasses or contact lenses with necessary cleaning
supplies

·Ear plugs, eye mask

·Night light

·Bandages, tweezers, antibiotic ointment or cream

·Hot/cold pack

·Tissues, toilet paper

·Laundry bag or collapsible hamper

·Quarters for laundry (many colleges now have prepaid cards for laundry facilities)

·Folding drying rack

·Detergent, softener

·Hangers

·Towels (bath and hand), face cloths

·Iron, compact ironing board

·Sewing kit

·Umbrella

·Clothes appropriate for the environment

As always, check with your college/university for some of these
items (curling irons, for example), because they may not be allowed in the
room.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Tips for Tuesday

More and more, people are turning to bicycles for
transportation.It may be to save money
on gas.It may be for exercise.It may just be for pleasure.Whatever the use, a bicycle, like a car, must
be maintained in order to make it last.

When pulling your bike out for the year, take it to
a shop to be checked out.A store can
check tires and inner tubes for damage, lubricate the gears and check the
chain.They should also check the brakes
and ensure that the saddle is secure and does not move. The bicycle frame
should be aligned and undamaged, and the spokes should be straight.

Clean and maintain your bike throughout the
summer.Have on hand the following
tools:

·Long-handled brush and toothbrush for scrubbing

·Soft cloth for cleaning

·Screwdriver set

·Nuts and bolts specific to your bike (check
your manual)

·Adjustable wrench

·Electrical tape

·Puncture repair kit

Mark your bicycle by etching the number and
zip code of your home into an inconspicuous part of the frame.This would help identify it in case of
theft.To prevent theft, always keep
your bike locked up.If you use a chain,
thread it through both wheels and around the frame.If your bike has quick-release parts, remove
these parts when you lock it up so it won't be as tempting to steal.Remove any valuable accessories from your
bike when you leave it.

To make your bike less attractive to thieves,
paint colorful designs on the frame, or use colored tape.This will make it difficult to re-sell if
stolen.Thieves will move on to the next
bike.